Indian Air Force

Indian Air Force
भारतीय वायु सेना Bhāratīya Vāyu Senā
The Crest of the Indian Air Force
Founded	8 October 1932; 84 years ago (1932-10-08)
Country	India
Role	Aerial warfare
Size	140,431 active personnel Approx. 1,720+ aircraft
Part of	Indian Armed Forces
Headquarters	New Delhi
Motto(s)	नभः स्पृशं दीप्तम् (Sanskrit) IAST: Nabhaḥ Spr̥śaṁ Dīptam (Touch the Sky with Glory)
Colour	Navy blue, sky blue & white
Anniversaries	Air Force Day: 8 October
Engagements	Notable Operations World War II Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 Congo Crisis Operation Vijay Sino-Indian War Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Bangladesh Liberation War Operation Meghdoot Operation Poomalai Operation Pawan Operation Cactus Kargil War
Website	indianairforce.nic.in
Commanders
Chief of Air Staff (CAS)	Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa
Vice Chief of Air Staff (VCAS)	Air Marshal Shirish Baban Deo
Notable commanders	Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh Air Chief Marshal Pratap Chandra Lal Air Marshal Subroto Mukherjee
Insignia
Air Force Ensign
Roundel
Fin flash
Aircraft flown
Attack	Jaguar, MiG-27, Harpy
Electronic warfare	A-50E/I, DRDO AEW&CS
Fighter	Su-30MKI, Mirage 2000, MiG-29, HAL Tejas, MiG-21
Helicopter	Dhruv, Chetak, Cheetah, Mi-8, Mi-17, Mi-26, Mi-25/35, HAL Light Combat Helicopter, HAL Rudra
Reconnaissance	Searcher II, Heron
Trainer	Hawk Mk 132, HJT-16 Kiran, Pilatus C-7 Mk II
Transport	C-17 Globemaster III, Il-76, An-32, HS 748, Do 228, Boeing 737, ERJ 135, C-130J
Tanker	Il-78 MKI

Equivalent ranks of Indian military
Indian Navy	Indian Army	Indian Air Force
Commissioned ranks
Admiral of the Fleet	Field Marshal	Marshal of the Air Force
Admiral	General	Air Chief Marshal
Vice Admiral	Lieutenant General	Air Marshal
Rear Admiral	Major General	Air Vice Marshal
Commodore	Brigadier	Air Commodore
Captain	Colonel	Group Captain
Commander	Lieutenant Colonel	Wing Commander
Lt. Commander	Major	Squadron Leader
Lieutenant	Captain	Flight Lieutenant
Sub Lieutenant	Lieutenant	Flying Officer
Junior commissioned ranks
Master Chief Petty Officer 1st Class	Subedar Major	Master warrant officer
Master Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class	Subedar	Warrant officer
Chief Petty Officer	Naib Subedar	Junior warrant officer
Non-commissioned ranks
Petty Officer	Havildar	Sergeant
Leading Seaman	Naik	Corporal
Seaman 1	Lance Naik	Leading aircraftsman
Seaman 2	Sepoy	Aircraftsman
Footnotes

The Indian Air Force (IAF; IAST: Bhāratīya Vāyu Senā) is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. It is the world's fourth largest air force in terms of both personnel and aircraft. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict. It was officially established on 8 October 1932 as an auxiliary air force of the British Empire and the prefix Royal was added in 1945 in recognition of its services during World War II. After India became independent from the United Kingdom in 1947, the Royal Indian Air Force served the Dominion of India, with the prefix being dropped when India became a republic in 1950. Since independence, the IAF has been involved in four wars with neighbouring Pakistan and one with the People's Republic of China. Other major operations undertaken by the IAF include Operation Vijay, Operation Meghdoot, Operation Cactus and Operation Poomalai. Apart from conflicts, the IAF has been an active participant in United Nations peacekeeping missions.

The President of India serves as Supreme Commander of the IAF. The Chief of Air Staff, an Air Chief Marshal, is a four-star officer and commands the Air Force. There is never more than one serving ACM at any given time in the IAF. The rank of Marshal of the Air Force has been conferred once, to Arjan Singh, by the President of India on 26 January 2002 and he became the first five-star rank holding officer of IAF & serves as the ceremonial chief.

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